Civic Center fix-up could change everything
"We don't want to address the building again until we pay off the debt," - City Manager John Steelman
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

CHANGES COMING: The facade of the El Campo Civic Center could change as part of scheduled work. L-N File Photo

A completely renovated civic center, from the appearance of the entrance and a possible dance floor to better air-conditioning and bathroom facilities, topped El Campo City Council discussion during a special meeting Tuesday.

Whatever happens, it will have to take place in a 90-day time frame to coincide with a scheduled August-through-October building closure.

That's a tight time frame, RWS Architect Malcolm Gaus told Council, adding it means all areas including the El Campo Museum of Natural History will have to be ready for work on day one (please see related story).

"I want people to walk in and say, 'Wow!," Mayor Phillip Spenrath said.

To do so, the city is looking at changing the front facade and lobby, and possibly adding ceramic tile and double doors leading in.

Interior doors leading into rooms would be solid.

"The whole front needs to change," Gaus said. "We want to do something that pulls old downtown into it. It won't look like the middle school. (It will) have its own identity."

Possible changes include bigger columns, the removal of flour beds and a possible enlargement of the front covered area.

The entire 41,170 squarefoot building will be reroofed with virtually all air-conditioning with virtually all air-conditioning systems replaced - an action that hasn't taken place since the building opened as a KMart in 1979.

To make the system more efficient, duct work will be installed, eliminating the "air dumps" of the current system along with ceilings.

Council is examining two possible roof systems - a single-ply versus a built-up roof - looking specifically at durability in comparison to weight loads.

"I'd recommend a build-up over single-ply, but the weight scares me," Gaus said.

The built-up roof would last 20 to 30 years whereas a single ply might make it 10 to 15 years.

"We don't want to address the building again until we pay the debt off," City Manager John Steelman said.

Current plans already call for additional columns to be placed in the main hall to help support I-beams running across the roof.

"We're doing it for the safety of it," Gaus said.

Those columns would create minor sight blocks, but could be used as anchors for additional partition areas in the main hall. Currently the hall can only be divided into two unequal parts.

Several Council members also requested the architect look into the possibility of adding a dance floor to the main hall and cosmetic work on the stage as well as a review of the building's sound system.

Current plans call for restrooms at the civic center to be updated and expanded including handicap access stalls and additional capacity for women.

Meeting Room C would be eliminated in favor of additional womens stalls near the front of the building.

Other restrooms would receive cosmetic work with the city also looking at the possibility of adding one family restroom to the facility.

All flooring and lighting is also scheduled for replacement.

Color will be a major issue, City Council members said.

Gaus agreed, but warned Council it needed to make the decisions.

"If you get a color committee together, I resign right now," he said, adding it is almost impossible to get a large group to agree on color schemes.

Council will have plenty of time, he said, "But I don't want to give you too much time, that's what makes me scared."

City Council has currently allocated $1 million to the renovation of the building with some of that funding coming from a 20-year certificate of obligation.